Lifting-truck.



W. F. IRRGANG LIFTING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1915.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET1 A TTORNE Y.

W. F. IRRGANG.

LIFTING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I9I5.

Patented M 2 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEY.

w. F; IRRGANG.

LIFTING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s. 1915.

Patented Mar. 7,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

transect warren snares PATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAM F. IRRGANG, OF WINDSOR. LOCKS, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE" P.

CLARK COMPANY, OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- Specification of Letters Patent.

LIFTING-TRUCK.

Patented Mar. '2, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. IRRGANG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Windsor Locks, county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifting-Trucks, of which the following understood.

Trucks of the lifting type comprise, in

general, two relatively movable frames, one.

of Y which is mounted on the other and adapted to receive a load and the other to be supported from suitable wheels; lifting devices, which interconnect the relatively movable frames; and mechanism, operable from the steering and drawing handle of the truck, to actuate said devices.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the construction as-well' as the operating mechanism of the lifting truck to the end that itmay-be built economically and operated eiiicie'ntly.- I

The objects of the i particularly, characterized by the construction and the operative relation of the elements as defined in the annexed claims.

One preferred form of my invention is shown for the purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in'which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the truck with the movable frame thereof shown, in lowered position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3' isa top plan view of a rear corner of the truck with certain portions broken away; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5' is a partial sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the front portion of the truck with the movable frame thereof shown in lifted position; and Fig. 7 is a'side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a modification. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the truck,

nvention are, more showing the general arrangement of the parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive: 1 represents a frame, preferably of channel section, which is bent into a modified U form. Each of the forward ends of this frame 1 are secured by bolts 8 to a casting 2, which arches from and ties the ends of the frame together at the forward end of the truck. Rotatably mounted in the castng 2 is a'member 5 having spaced dependlng webs, between which is mounted a front wheel 6. The rear portion 1' of the U- shaped frame 1 extends transversely of the truck and is bolted to an axle 3, upon which are mounted rear wheels 4. This wheel supported frame structure just described may be conveniently considered as acarriage to bear the load lifting platform and its associated mechanism latch to be described.

The casting 2 is formed on either side thereof with projecting pads 7 (see Fig. 5) against which the frame 1 is bolted. These pads 7 form a pocket on either side of the casting 2 between the frame 1 and the casting to receive links 10. The. latter are pivotally connected at 9 to the frame 1 and casting .2 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and are secured by studs 11 to the free ends of a second U-shaped frame 14 which forms a load supporting platform. Near the rear end of theframe 14 is a rod 16 which extends transversely across the frame and is secured thereto as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Loosely mounted on the rod 16 in spaced relation, one at each rear corner of the truck are links 15, which extend to and are rotatably supported upon the rear axle 3. It is to be noted that the links 15 are arranged inside the frame 14 and outside the wheels 4, whereby each link is held against axial movement in either direction by-the frame and a wheel without the use of collars and like retaining devices.

Fig. 3 clearly shows the arrangement of the two frames 1 and 14 and one of the link connections therebetween. It will be seen from this figure that the lower frame 1 at each side is inwardly inclined near its rear portion to clear the inside of the wheels 4. The forward ends of the two frames are substantially in the same vertical plane as will be seen in Fig. 2. It will, therefore, be evident that, when the frame 14 or platform is in its lowered position, as shownin Fig. 1, its engagement with the frame 1 limits the downward movement of the platform at the forward end of the truck. the rear end the platform 14, when in lowered position, rests on a boss 15 on the link 15. r

The links 10, hereto-foredescribed, have integral extensions 10 which, when the platform 1-1 is in lowered position, as in. Fig. 1, extend vertically upward.

this arm has on either side thereof bosses 23, which are normally engaged by a latch 24. The latter is pivotally mounted in the handle socket 18 at 25 and is constantly pressed upwardly by a spring 27 (see Fig. 6).- The arm 21 has a notch 22, which forms a hook in one end of the arm to engage with the rod 12, when the arm is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. When the handle 19 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lower rear surface of the handle socket 18 engages a stop 32 formed on the member 5 as an integral part thereof, whereby the handle is prevented from tipping rearwardly. The abutment of the member 18 against the stop 32 also insures that the handle is properly positioned so that, when the hook arm 21 is released and allowed to drop, the notch 22 will engage the rod 12. It should be noted that, when the arm 21 is released from the latch 24:, the

latter abuts at its rear end a stop 26, integral. with the handle socket 18 (see Fig. 6).

When the hook arm 21 is held in the posi tion shown in Fig. 1 by the latch 24, the handle 19 may be used in the usual way to draw and steer the truck. Then the handle is not in use for such purposes, it is ordinarily brought into the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the forward wheel 6 is directed substantially straight ahead, and the handle is prevented from rearward tipping by the stop 32 against which it rests. parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, to raise the platform 14, the followin procedure is employed: The latch 24 is depressed. preferably and most conveniently with the foot, (a forward extension being provided for this purpose) to release the portion 23- lVith the of the arm 21 and to allow the latter to drop by gravity to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, wherein the notch 22 engages the rod 12. Thereafter, by pulling downwardly on the handle 19, the links 10 and 15 are rotated on their pivots, and the platform 14: is raised to the position shown in Fig. 6. Foot pieces 28 integrally formed with the member 5 (see Figs. 1 and 4:) form a convenient means, whereby the operator may brace himself for the initial pull on the handle 19. Vhen the platform is in the raised position shown in Fig. 6, the rod 12 engages the top surface of the casting 2 to limit further clockwise rotation of the links 10. It is to be noted that the center of the stud 11 now lies to the right of the center of the pivot 9 so that the platform 14 and load thereon is held in elevated position by the passing across centers of the arrangement shown of the load supporting points of links 10, whereupon the load tends to turn links 10 to press the cross rod 12 against the top of the casting 2. The end 23 of the arm 21 may now be pushed downwardly by the foot to disengage the arm from the rod 12 and to bring the portion 23 into engagement with the latch 24. The handle 19 is then free for drawing and steering purposes. T 0 again lower the platform 14, the arm 21 is hooked over the rod 12, as shown in Fig. 6, and the handle 19 is pulled upwardly enough to break the lock of the links 10, and, thereafter, the handle is used to ease the downward movement of the frame 14.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the handle-actuated hook, wherein the latch 24 is eliminated. An arm 21 has at one end a hook 22 and at the other end a weighted portion 31. This arm is supported by a pin 20, as heretofore, but the arm 21 is movable on the pin 20 by reason of a closed slot 29. When the pin 20 occupies the position in the slot 29, shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the weight of the portion 31 is suflicient to hold the arm 21 in raised position. \V hen the arm 21 is to be used to actuate the links 10, it is raised preferably by the foot until the pin 20 rests in the slot 30, which is at right angles to the slot 29. \Vith the parts so positioned, the arm 21 may be used as heretofore to actuate the links 10.

In the modification just described the hook arm 21 is disengaged after the platform is raised by pushing downwardly with the foot on' weight 31. At this time the handle is lowered so that the hook arm turns clockwise until it moves the slot 29 in line with pin 20, the weight of the book then causes it to move on pin 20 until it is again in the position relativelv to the handle as shown in Fig. Z". By this operation the hook arm may be kept flw arcidentally falling to strike the front a high pivoted to the handle having a hook to engage and operate said means bymovement of the handle, said means and hook arm being constructed and arranged so that the latter has a tendency to fall into engaging position with the former, and foot operable means to hold the arm out of hook engaging position when desired.-

2. A lifting truck, comprising, a carriage, a handle 'therefor, a rearwardly extending hook arm pivoted intermediate its ends at the lower part of the handle, a load lifting mechanism connected to the carriage having means for temporary engagement by said hook and operable by such engagement and the downward sweep of the handle to lift a load and an extension on said hook arm operable by downward foot pressure to disengage said hook arm.

3. A lifting truck, comprising, a carriage, a pivoted handle at the front end thereof, an arm pivoted near the lower end of the handle having a hook portion rearwardly extending from the handle and a controlling portion forwardly extending from the handle, a load lifting mechanism connected to the carriage having means for said hook portion to engage, all constructed and arranged so that a downward sweep of the handle may operate said mechanism and the hook may be disengaged therefrom by movement of said controlling portion by the operator.

4. A lifting truck, comprising, a carriage, a pivoted handle at the front end thereof, load lifting mechanism connected to the carriage, an arm pivoted on the handle near the lower end thereof having a-.rearwardly extending hook portion for engagement with said mechanism and a forwardly extending controlling portion, the latter having a foot piece at the end thereof, all constructed and arranged so that the handle may operate and control said mechanism by means of the connection with the hook portion and the latter may be disconnected by pressure on said foot piece.

A lifting truck, comprising,a carriage, a handle pivoted at the front end thereof,

a load lifting mechanism connected to the carriage, an arm having a hook adapted to connect with and operate said mechanism by the movement of said handle on its pivot,

paper in the normal said arm being pivoted intermediate its length near the lower end of the handle so that its rearwardly extending hook portion overbalances its forwardly extending portion, a latch on the handle adapted to engage the front end of the arm and hold it from moving on its pivot, said hook portion being constructed to automatically engage said mechanism when the handle is up and the latch is released, said forwardly extending portion and said latch being con- 'structed for foot operation to cause their connection and disconnection, as desired.

6. A lifting truck, c'omprising,a carriage, a load supporting platform, links pivoted on each of the four corners of the carriage and to the platform, the two links at the front corners being provided with extensions above the platform, a cross rod con- 4 necting said extensions, a pivoted handle at the forward end of the truck, a hook arm pivoted directly to the handle and operable to connect and disconnect the handle with said cross rod, whereby when the handle is connected a downward sweep thereof will move the. links on their pivots and the platform and carriage relatively one to the other for the links to elevate the platform.

7. The combination in a lifting truck of l a carriage, comprising, a U-shaped bar, a rear axle connected with the cross-piece of said bar, an arched casting connecting the open ends of said bar, a steering wheel swiveled to said casting intermediate the sides thereof and wheels mounted on the rear axle outside of said bar, a U-shaped lifting platform, links pivoted to said axle outside the wheels and to the inner sides of said platform, other links connecting the forward ends of said bar and platform, a truck handle and means operated by the latter to turn said links on their pivots whereby the platform may be raised and lowered with respect to said bar.

8. A lifting truck, comprising, a carriage and a platform each formed of a single U- shaped frame piece, means fastened to the cross piece of thecarriage on which rear wheels are mounted, an arched casting connecting the open end of the carriage frame having vertical slots between said casting and the side bars of the frame, links hori- Ail. mmseo the rear axle outside of the rear wheels, links pivoted to the front corners of the carriage, all of said links serving to pivotally connect said platform and carriage, stops on the latter to limit the pivotal movement of the links, whereby the latter may be operated to raise and lower the platform, said outwardly extending bosses being arranged to limit the downward movement of said side bars, a truck handle, and handle 10 operated means to move said links for the raising and lowering operations.

. WILLIAM F. IRRGANG.

Witnesses:

F. G. NEAL, H. E. HARTWELL. 

